World Cup rehearsal in Bowl battle

Posted on Jun 17, 2011 in Latest Rugby News

Eddie O’Sullivan has revealed the starting line-up for his side’s final Churchill Cup fixture, as the Eagles look to come away from the tournament with a win in the Bowl final for a second time.

In a preview to the 2011 Rugby World Cup Pool C fixture, USA Eagles will face Russia at Sixways on Saturday in a bid to take home some silverware.

O’Sullivan’s Eagles have lost both their Pool A fixtures, suffering a Churchill Cup record defeat (8-87) to England Saxons on the opening weekend at Franklin’s Gardens, followed three days later by a second loss to Tonga (13-44) at Esher Rugby. Despite the losses, the former Ireland head coach insists the tournament has been a worthwhile experience, saying:

“It has been a very valuable Churchill Cup so far as we have had a great opportunity to look at players and combinations very closely for RWC.” commented O’Sullivan.

“The first two games against a very strong Saxons team and Tonga have been tough. The Tonga result was disappointing as we fielded a much more experienced team than against the Saxons. But we looked very ring rusty and made a lot of errors.

“I am confident after our third week in camp we will play with a lot more precision on Saturday. But it will take a big performance as Russia are playing well and were unlucky to lose to Italy A. They have some dangerous backs and a very solid pack so we will need to fire on all cylinders for this one.”

Saturday’s team shows five changes to the starting twenty-two that lost to Tongan, as former Sale Sharks scrum-half Mike Petri is named in replacement of Tim Usasz, who moves to the bench.  Phil Thiel shows the only change in the front row, replacing Chris Biller, while Louis Stanfill moves from the second row to number 8; John Van der Giessen starting at lock.

Churchill Cup finals, Saturday June 18, Sixways.

Bowl final: USA v Russia, 1200

USA: B. Scully; C. Hawley, P. Emerick, A. Suniula, K.Swiryn;  N.Malifa, M. Petri; M. Moeakiola, P. Thiel, S. Pittman, J. Van der Giessen, S. Lavalla, I. Basauri, T. Clever (C), L. Stanfill. Reps: C. Biller, E. Fry, P. Danahy, N. Johnson, T. Usasz, R. Suniula, T. Enosa

Russia: I. Klyuchnikov; V. Artemyev, M. Babaev, A. Makovetsky, V. Ostroushko;  Y. Kushnarev, A. Shakirov; S. Popov, V. Korshunov(C), I. Prishchepenko, A. Voytov, D. Antonov, A. Temnov, A. Garbuzov, V. Grachev Reps: V. Tsnobiladze, A. Chernyshev, A. Panasenko, V. Gresev, A. Bykanov, A. Ryabov, I. Galinovsky

Italy step up to the plate final

Posted on Jun 13, 2011 in Latest Rugby News

Italy A 24 – Russia 19

ITALY A survived a second half Russian fight back to book their place in the Churchill Cup Plate final.

The Azzurri led 18-6 at the break but they held on by their fingertips in the last 20 minutes to set up a showdown with Tonga at Sixways on Saturday.

Former Gloucester lock Marco Bortolami said: “It was a tough game and in the second half they put some width of the game. But our scrummage was good and gave us a foundation.”

Senior Italian assistant coach Alessandra Troncon: “It was a very important to win because last week we lost to Canada. Russia arein our pool during the World Cup so to win is a good. The scrum saved us a few times so I think it as key for us today.”

Russia face a Bowl final against their World Cup opponents USA and Bears’ boss Kingsley Jones said: “It’s a game we should have won. These lads can really play rugby but there was some naivety and not being street wise. But there are a lot of positives. A lot of the players showed what they can do in open space. The lineout improved but the scrum was an issue for us.”

Italy led by nine at halftime thanks to tries from Matteo Pratichetti and Giulio Toniolatti, who went into the corner after a drive and deft offload from loosehead prop Alberto de Marchi.

Russia had to rely on the boot of Yury Kushnarev, who kicked two penalties and then added a third early in the second half to close the gap to nine points.

Tito Tebaldi landed a third penalty but then the tide turned as Russia scored the try of the match, a breakaway from their own 22 when Andrey Bykanov scooped up a loose ball, fed Kushnarev and when Rushan Yagudin took the ball on halfway he stepped out of the tackle and raced away.

With Tebaldi in the sinbin for killing the ball after Vasily Artemyev’s break, Riccardo Bocchino stretched the lead.

Kushnarev failed with two attempts that could have put Russia right back into the game and was soon replaced by Anton Ryabov.

Tebaldi missed a penalty and Russia almost hit the killer button when Alexander Shakirov made the break and only a last ditch tackle from Matteo Pratichetti stopped him delivering the final pass to Yagudin.   

Russia had a final crack with a freekick which they ran close to the Italian line but they could not capitalise and the chance was lost. 

Italy A: R Trevisan; G Toniolatti, A Pratichetti, A Pratichetti, M Sepe; R Bocchino, T Tebaldi; A De Marchi, T D’Aspice, F Staibano (D Christolini 47), J Furno, V Bernabo (capt M Bortolami 45), F Minto, M Bergamasco, M Vosawai. Reps (not used): A Manici, M Aguero, D Gerber G Venditti, N Belardo.

Yellow card: Tebaldi 59-69

Scorers: Tries: M Pratichetti, Toniolatti; Pens: Tebaldi (3),Bocchino; Con: Tebaldi;

Russia: I Klyuchnikov; V Artemyev, M Babaev, S Trishin , R. Yagudin;  Y. Kushnarev (A Ryabov 70), A Bykanov (A Shakirov 66); G Tsnobiladze (A Travkin 49), V Tsnobiladze (V Korshunov 66), A Chernyshev (I Prishchepenko 49), A Panasenko, D Antonov, V Gresev, M Sidorov, V Grachev (capt, A Garbuzov 59). Rep (not used): I Galinovsky.

Scorers: Try: Yagudin; Pens: Kushnarev (4); Con:  Kushnarev.          

Referee: D Pearson (England)

Att: 5357

Canada through to Churchill Cup final

Posted on Jun 10, 2011 in Latest Rugby News

Russia 18 – Canada 34

CANADA booked their place in a second successive Churchill Cup final with a five-try victory over Russia at Esher tonight.

Kieran Crowley’s men followed up their opening day 26-12 victory over Italy A with a workman like five-try display against the Russians, scoring 19 unanswered points in the second half.

Tries from Justin Mensah-Coker, Connor Trainor, Ander Munro, Chauncey O’Toole and Matt Evans secured the victory and an 11-day rest before they go for glory at Sixways against England Saxons or Tonga. 

O’Toole, man of the match for the second time in five days, said: “It feels pretty good to be in the final – that was our goal. It was a tough game and we knew that we would have to weather their storm and it was going to take a full 80 minutes against these guys.”

It was O’Toole who set the tone of the Canadian display when he made a break upfield, the ball was moved wide and James Pritchard flipped the ball back inside for Mensah-Coker to dot down.

Pritchard added the extras and then traded penalties with Yury Kushnarev before Canada pressed the self destruct button when Igor Kalinovsky pounced on a loose ball and raced away to score.

That brought the scores level at 10-10 before the Bears went 15-10 ahead through Vasily Artemyev, who pounced on a kick through to dot down.

Trainor cancelled that out when two long passes down the line from Sean White and then Munro found the outside centre, who jinked his way out of clutching hands to cross.

But it was Russia who had the last say in the first half with Kushnarev kicking a second penalty for an 18-15 lead.

Canada regrouped but they had to wait 20 minutes to score the try of the evening – a flowing move down the left which included a Mike Scholz one handed pass out of the tackle – for Munro to cross and Pritchard to add the conversion. 

And they sealed the victory after 70 minutes when O’Toole intercepted Alexander Voytov’s pass as Canada attacked the blind side and the flanker had an easy run to the line.

Evans wrapped up the victory when he took advantage of another loose ball to race away to score behind the posts for Pritchard to convert.

Russia now take on Italy A at Kingsholm on Sunday and Russian boss Kingsley Jones said: “I was very proud of them. They have worked hard in a short space of time. We are working on our strength and conditioning and just imagine how good we can be if we get fitter. Playing at that intensity for 80 minutes is a massive thing.

“It’s a hard lesson for the lads to learn but it was a pleasing night in many ways. Of course we would like to win but we are realistic about where we are as a team.”

Russia: I Klyuchnikov; V Artemyev; I Makovetsky (A Ryabov 53), I Galinovsky, V Ostroushko, Y Kushnarev, S Shakirov (A Bykanov 76); S Popov, V Korshunov (capt, V Tsnobiladze, 73), I Prishchepenko (A Travkin 57), V Boltenkov (A  Panasenko 63), A Voytov, V Boltenkov, A Temnov, A Garbuzov, V Grachev (V Gresev 53). Rep (not used): S Trishin.

Scorers: Tries: Klyuchnikov, Artemyev; Pens: Kushnarev (2); Con: Kushnarev.

Canada: J Pritchard; M Evans, C Trainor (P Mackenzie 56), M Scholz, J Mensah-Coker; A Munro (capt), S White (E Fairhurst 54); T Dolezel (H Buydens 54), R Hamilton (P Riordan 24), S Franklin (A Tiedemann 67) T Hotson, J Cudmore (M Gudgeon 73), J Sinclair (N Dala 66), C O’Toole, A Carpenter.

Scorers: Tries: Mensah-Coker, Trainor, Munro, O’Toole, Evans; Pen: Pritchard; Cons: Pritchard (3).

Referee: N Owens (Wales) 

Att: 2,100

England face tough trio at Emirates Airline London Sevens

Posted on Apr 11, 2011 in Latest Rugby News

ENGLAND today learned the identity of their pool stage opponents at next month’s Emirates Airline London Sevens.

The second seeds have been grouped with Argentina, the USA and France in Pool B of the tournament staged at Twickenham Stadium on May 21-22.

Ben Ryan’s side trail leaders New Zealand by 13 points going into the final two legs of this season’s HSBC Sevens World Series.

Their target is to repeat their 2009 title win at Twickenham to close the gap going into the Emirates Airline Edinburgh Sevens on May 28-29.

If England top their group they will face the runners-up from Pool A – containing New Zealand, Wales, Kenya and Spain – on Day 2 at Twickenham.

"We’re primed for a pretty big assault on the Emirates Airline London Sevens and we need to win the tournament to have a chance to win the series," said England head coach Ryan.

"France are looking to turn things around at sevens and the USA and Argentina sides are improving all the time.

"The strength of the emerging European teams – like Russia and Portugal – means you can argue that this is the most competitive tournament in the series. Who we’re drawn against doesn’t matter too much – we know we’ll have to do our homework and work very hard."

London title-holders Australia face series champions Samoa, Scotland and Canada in Pool C, with South Africa, Fiji, Russia and Portugal in Pool D.

IRB Sevens Manager Beth Coalter said: "Once again the stage is set for a thrilling climax to the season. Last year the crowd, the weather and the rugby combined to make Twickenham an electric and truly memorable weekend of sevens and we can all expect more of the same this year."

England won the 2009 Emirates Airline London Sevens in stunning style, coming from 19-0 down to beat New Zealand 31-26 with Newcastle Falcons scrum half Micky Young scoring the winner.

Australia won last year’s final after Henry Vanderglas’s late try clinched their 19-14 success against South Africa.

Emirates Airline London Sevens
Pool A: New Zealand, Wales, Kenya, Spain
Pool B: England, Argentina, USA, France
Pool C: Samoa, Australia, Scotland, Canada
Pool D: South Africa, Fiji, Russia, Portugal

HSBC Sevens World Series standings: 1 New Zealand 134pts, 2 England 121, 3 Samoa 100, 4 South Africa 92, 5 Fiji 90, 6 Australia 52, 7 Argentina 32, 8 Wales 30, 9 Kenya 12, 10 USA 10, 11 Portugal, Russia, Scotland 8, 14 Canada 5.

The Russians are coming

Posted on Dec 20, 2010 in Rugby News

The Russian national rugby team will be heading to New Zealand shores early in the New Year for a taste of New Zealand provincial rugby as part of their build-up to Rugby World Cup 2011.

The Russian side will enjoy the best of a New Zealand summer when they arrive on 7 January ahead of their first match against a Taranaki XV on Saturday 15 January at New Plymouth’s Tikorangi Park. Russia then heads south to play South Canterbury at Timaru’s Alpine Energy Stadium on Friday 21 January.

The provincial contests will help Russia prepare for what will be the nation’s first appearance at a Rugby World Cup tournament. 

Taranaki Rugby Chief Executive Mark Robinson said Taranaki residents are gearing up to welcome the visitors from Russia offering them opportunities to experience some of the local highlights including farm visits, fishing trips and surfing adventures around the Taranaki coastline.

“We are excited to be able to assemble a team in our off-season to play the Russians and I know the Taranaki region will be great hosts to them while they are here enjoying part of our Taranaki summer,” he added.

South Canterbury Rugby Manager Cam Kilgour said: “It is very exciting for a Heartland team to get the opportunity to play a national side and we jumped at the chance when asked. We are looking forward to hosting the Russian side and treating them to some good old southern hospitality.”

The match details are:

• Taranaki XV v Russia, Saturday 15 January, Tikorangi Park, 5.00pm (Entry by gold coin donation)
• South Canterbury v Russia, Friday 21 January, Alpine Energy Stadium, 7.00pm (Adults $10 and children free)